For nearly 20 years the Miller Marley School of Dance and Voice has reimagined the holiday classic, The Nutcracker while taking Kansas Citians on a breathtaking theatrical voyage through ‘Clara’s Dream.”
“I always feel like Christmas lasts for about eight months in my brain,” chuckled Laura Branson, Artistic Director of Clara’s Dream.
Using Matthew Donnell’s original concept and choreography, Branson is in charge of crafting 70% of the production’s choreography and in charge of teaching her dancers variations of it. The school’s version of the Nutrcracker is a shortened production including dancers from the school’s two companies, competition groups and guest performers. Dancers also vary in age from six to eighteen years old, which is why Branson says adaptations have to be continuously made to fit a certain dancer's skill set.
“It kind of gives them a little audition process to see who is right for each part, and then we cast the show according to who will fit each part the best,” said Branson.
Once casted, students are ready to rehearse for three and half months.Branson describes the preparations for Clara’s dream as ‘intense’, but says her student’s enthusiasm to learn new roles and parts, year after year never fades away.
“Every year the kids are so excited to come back to Nutcracker music, even over the summer, they just can't wait for it, and they're so excited to do it,” said Branson.
Rehearsals this year hold a special meaning after the school had to make changes to their rehearsals and production due to COVID-19.
“This year we're finally back to having rehearsals and everyone in the studio, and we're able to build and grow together,” said production coordinator, Jenna Freiermuth
Freiermuth is an alumni of Miller Marley and knows first-hand the training involved in putting a production of this caliber into fruition. She danced in Clara’s Dream and as a current instructor, she gets to see her students start out as Angels and work their way to becoming stars of the production.
“We have so many dancers that get to be involved with this year after year after year, and to have those amazing role models for these young dancers to look up to, and truly see that hard work pays off,” said Freirmuth.
This year, Clara’s Dream will also showcase a message of unity. Part of their production will focus on the ‘party scene’ and will include US Ambassador roles which are played by some of the dancer's parents. Tia Browning and Elaine Beckman Lynch are in charge of costume design and have made alterations to match different countries represented in the show.
“I think that Miller Marley, as a whole, really strives to reach out to as many different families as possible, and we try to represent that,” said Friermuth.
‘Clara’s Dream’ has been a pillar of Miller Marley since curtains first opened in 2005, even though it’s an annual tradition, emotions run deep among the crew seeing their ‘angels’ spread their wings and fly.
“It's one of those bittersweet moments where you feel like you're watching your baby, even though they're not my own physical children,” said Branson. “I always feel so special and proud of them.”